The Body Mechanic · Brighton · Foot Pain
A burning zing between your toes. A sensation like walking on a pebble that isn't there. If you've been told injections or surgery are your only options — there's something worth knowing first.
Book Your Missing Piece Assessment One session. A clear picture of what's actually happening.
Does this sound familiar?
Understanding the problem
Morton's neuroma is an irritation of the nerve that runs between the metatarsal bones in the forefoot. When the tissue around that nerve becomes tight and compressed, the nerve gets unhappy — and it lets you know about it.
But here's what most people aren't told: the compression doesn't happen in isolation. There's usually a trifecta driving it — poor foot intrinsic strength, poor hip stability, and footwear that's been squashing the forefoot for years.
When all three are present, the way you load your foot changes. The inside of the foot takes the weight too early, the little toes get squeezed together, and a nerve that's already sitting in tight tissue gets compressed with every single step.
Restrictions can also develop on the outside of the foot — when the lateral foot loses mobility the tissue tightens, and that tighter tissue can become part of what's compressing the nerve. Often what looks like a localised foot problem is a whole-system loading problem that happens to show up between the toes.
The approach
Where the weight is going. Whether you're dropping into the medial forefoot too soon. Whether you're getting even distribution across the whole forefoot when you stand and walk. This matters not just when you're moving, but when you're standing still — something as simple as how you're standing in the shower can be aggravating the nerve dozens of times a day without you realising it.
The gluteus maximus is most active at heel strike and acts as the primary controller of rotation through the leg. When it isn't doing its job properly, that rotation has to go somewhere — and it often ends up overloading the forefoot. Addressing hip stability and eccentric glute control is a key part of restoring healthy foot mechanics.
Getting the foot to feel more balanced, more grounded, and more capable of doing what it's designed to do. Introducing exercises to mobilise the outside of your foot, looking at weight distribution, and building the strength that allows the whole system to load as it should. We also look at your footwear — a wide toe box is non-negotiable and can make an immediate difference while the deeper work takes effect.
What to expect
Sessions are practical and hands-on. We'll look at how you move, how you load, and where the restrictions are. You'll leave with a clear understanding of what's driving your symptoms — and a specific exercise programme, fully videoed, that takes around 20 minutes a day to complete at home. No gym required.
"I work with people who've tried everything else. If you've been told surgery is the next step — it's worth having one more conversation first."
Book Your Missing Piece Assessment Based in Brighton · In-person sessionsIs this right for you?
If you've already had surgery and symptoms have returned or haven't fully resolved, a whole-body movement assessment can still be valuable — because the loading pattern that created the problem in the first place may still be there.
Common questions